On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a long-awaited decision striking down the use of race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions—undermining universities’ efforts to maintain diverse and racially inclusive campuses. Since then, the classroom has remained a battleground for equity, with a Department of Education hijacked by Trump’s agenda to end “wokeness” and dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. The administration has also targeted foreign-born students, proposing restrictions that would bar visa-dependent students from enrolling at institutions like Harvard University—or from even entering the country at all.

Anti-equity efforts have also extended beyond the classroom, impeding the ability of federal agencies to uphold civil rights and advance DEIA, both within their institutions and in their broader enforcement work. Still, the war on equity in postsecondary education continues to handicap universities and threatens postsecondary enrollment.

The impact of the SCOTUS ruling and anti-DEI efforts

Following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down race-conscious admissions, many universities scrambled to adopt race-neutral alternatives. While the Court’s opinion still permits consideration of an applicant’s personal experiences with race—such as how it may have shaped their life through discrimination or served as a source of inspiration for their pursuits—colleges that previously factored race into admission decisions will likely need to revise their practices significantly. A 2023 study found that 91 of 123 selective colleges and universities considered race in admissions prior to the ruling.

At the same time, states have accelerated efforts to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Dozens of states have introduced legislation to eliminate DEI offices, ban diversity training and courses, prohibit identity-based hiring preferences, and outlaw diversity statements. Since 2023, nearly 135 anti-DEI bills have been introduced across 29 states and in Congress; as of June 2025, 29 of those bills have been signed into law.

These coordinated attacks on equity in higher education threaten to roll back decades of progress. For years, race-conscious recruitment, admissions policies, and student support programs have helped expand college access for students of color. Now, with the Court’s decision and mounting anti-DEI laws, those hard-won gains are at serious risk of being undone.

To understand what’s at risk, it’s important to recognize just how much progress has been made in diversifying public college campuses over the last several decades.

Trends in postsecondary public enrollment

The racial and ethnic composition of students at public four-year colleges has changed dramatically since the 1970s. Data on fall enrollment from 1976 to 2023 show that public higher education is more racially diverse than ever before—especially after a notable jump in enrollment in 2010 following the Great Recession. Proposed rollbacks to DEIA policies threaten to undermine decades of progress. As shown in Figures A and B, the most significant enrollment gains since 1976 can be attributed to Hispanic and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students.

Hispanic student enrollment grew from 129,300 in 1976 to nearly 1.94 million in 2023—a 15-fold increase. Their share of total public four-year enrollment rose from 2.7% to 22.1%, now representing over one in five students. The number of AAPI students grew from 87,500 to 783,600, increasing their share from 1.8% to 8.9%. Black student enrollment also increased—from 421,800 to 1.01 million—but their proportional representation has stagnated since 2010, slipping slightly from 12.1% to 11.5%. American Indian and Alaska Native students, meanwhile, saw modest growth in numbers but a slight decline in share, from 0.9% in 2010 to 0.7% in 2023.

Notably, though not included in the percentage distribution data, nonresident student enrollment rose from 106,000 in 1976 to 534,100 in 2023. These students are particularly vulnerable to the dual threat of anti-immigration and anti-DEI efforts. Shifts in the racial and ethnic composition of students reflect not just demographic change, but also the impact of equity-driven recruitment, admissions, and efforts to support both domestic and international students—many of which are now under attack.

Despite these gains, racial equity in higher education remains fragile. The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against race-conscious admissions, combined with a wave of anti-DEI legislation and executive actions, threatens to strip away critical tools that helped build a higher education system that reflects the nation’s diversity.

DEIA rollbacks harm underrepresented students the most

Rolling back DEIA policies will not only harm underrepresented students but also weaken the overall strength of the U.S. workforce and economy. Expanding inclusive pathways to postsecondary education for students of color plays a critical role in improving their long-term economic outcomes. For example, in 2024, Black workers with only a high school diploma had a median hourly wage of $18.41. With a bachelor’s degree, that wage rose to $28.13—nearly $10 more per hour. For those with a graduate degree, the median hourly wage jumped to $37.71.

Beyond wages, research shows that reducing discrimination in the workplace has historically led to stronger economic growth. Between 1960 and 2010, the convergence in wages and occupations of women and Black men relative to white men accounted for 41.5% of the nation’s growth in GDP per capita. This convergence was driven largely by gains in educational attainment and reductions in labor market discrimination—both of which opened doors to higher-skilled, better-paying jobs. Attacks on DEI efforts, both inside and outside the classroom, threaten to reverse this progress and limit the potential for future generations.

Since the 1970s, DEIA and affirmative action policies have been used to foster more diverse classrooms and campuses. At institutions like MIT, for example, a proactive affirmative action program in the 1970s helped create a critical mass of Black doctoral students during the first half of the decade. Programs like these generate long-term value, for the individuals who participate in these programs and for the country as a whole. Yet in a country where diversity and equity are increasingly vilified, the benefits of these programs are now under serious threat.

Today, hundreds of thousands of students of color rely on an inclusive higher education system. But diversity doesn’t just benefit the underrepresented—it enriches the educational experience for all students. Exposure to a range of perspectives and lived experiences is essential for critical thinking, empathy, and preparing students to engage with a complex, interconnected world. As the country becomes more diverse and the share of students of color continues to rise, higher education institutions must remain equitable and inclusive spaces where all students can thrive.

Without protected and equitable pathways for students of color, we risk returning to a higher education system defined by exclusion rather than opportunity. Policymakers must understand that diversity is not a liability—it is a national strength. Embracing diversity as an asset is key to building a more equitable society and a more competitive economy. Reversing course now would be a costly setback for equity, opportunity, and our nation’s future.